Op-ed advices Democratic candidates on what they need to know about rural Iowa to succeed there - Entrepreneur Generations

Rural Americans came out in unprecedented numbers to vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, continuing a decades-long trend in which Democrats have lost ground in rural areas. Many Democratic contenders for the 2020 primary have already made a point of talking about rural issues while campaigning in Iowa, but several seem "clueless," Robert Leonard and Matt Russell write for The New York Times. Leonard is the news director for the Iowa radio stations KNIA and KRLS. Russell co-owns Coyote Run Farm and is the executive director of Iowa Interfaith Power and Light.

Here's what Democratic candidates should know in order to succeed in rural America, Leonard and Russell write in a wide-ranging op-ed. First, the broad strokes: "A strong Democratic platform with realistic plans for rural America would focus on four themes: demography, infrastructure, farm sustainability and environmental practices that can help combat climate change."

Agriculture and trade are some of the biggest problems in Iowa, where up to 30 percent of the economy depends on agriculture such as soybeans, corn and hogs--all affected by the trade war with China. Young people are leaving agriculture because of uncertain money, which means a lot of small towns are dying, Leonard and Russell write.

"Don’t demonize 'Big Ag' and factory farms," they also advise. "It’s just liberal white noise to most involved in agriculture. Most of our farms are family-owned, not big agricultural corporations, even if they are integrated into the larger systems to one degree or another. Most need that integration to survive."

The Green New Deal is a flawed but decent bit of legislation that could help revive rural Iowa, since Plains States are among nationwide leaders in solar and wind power, Leonard and Russell write. And farmers could be interested in fighting climate change if candidates show how they can do it through farming practices like carbon sequestration.

Housing and development are also big issues to discuss. "Rural hubs will survive with investment. Communities that want to invest in themselves, develop creative strategies for growth, and partner with regional development efforts should be supported," Leonard and Russell write.

Democratic candidates could also connect with voters on faith. Many rural Iowans are Christians, but dislike the way that evangelical Christianity has been yoked to the Republican party and used to deny help to those who need it, Leonard and Russell write.

from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2ugelxP Op-ed advices Democratic candidates on what they need to know about rural Iowa to succeed there - Entrepreneur Generations

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